*Valentine Berry Cutie Pies*
Makes 24 mini muffin sized pies

Dainty delicious little pies, perfect for a little tete a tete with the one you love.

butter for buttering the pan
12 ounces strawberries
2 tsp cornflour
2 TBS strawberry jam
the finely grated zest of 2 limes (I use my microplane fine grater)
1 pound of all butter pastry, or ready made sweet shortcrust pastry, chilled
a little plain flour for dusting


Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas  mark 4.  Lightly butter a 24 section mini muffin tin (pampered chef makes one) or two 12 hole mini muffin pans.  Set aside.

Roughly chop the strawberries.  Put them in a mixing bowl and then gently stir in the cornflour, jam and lime zest.

This is how I do it:  I pinch off walnut sized pieces of dough.  Roll into balls and then press the balls into the muffin tins with my Pampered Chef Pastry press thingie, but you could also use the end of a rolling pin, or wooden spoon, floured, or in a real pinch, your thumbs.)  Fill each little shell with a bit of the strawberry mixture.  Roll out the remaining pastry to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut into little shapes as you wish.  (I cut mine into hearts)  Place one shape on top of each tart.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.  Allow to cool in the tins for about 10 minutes before loosening with the tip of a knife and transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

If desired dust with some icing sugar to serve.  (I forgot to do this before I took the pictures!)  Share them with your honeybun.